The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).
Volume XIV. The Victorian Age, Part Two.
§ 24. The Guardian
Although The Guardian, primarily, was a religious weekly, being founded, in 1846, by a number of churchmen, including Gladstone, it gave much attention to political, social and literary subjects, and among its constant contributors were men of high rank in their respective departments of knowledge. Until 1885, it was generally a supporter of the liberal party, but, thereafter, its political independence became more and more pronounced. It is impossible here to survey the wide field of religious periodicals, valuable though such a review would be as illustrating a gradual change in the attitude towards religious journalism not only of the general public, but, also, of trained theologians of various schools. A mere catalogue of professedly religious papers might be misleading.